Parkstad has been voted the best tourist destination in the world.

The South Limburg region received the award at the WTTC conference in Dallas, the largest convention in the tourism industry.

Mining
Parkstad won the award because of the successful transition from industrial area to tourist region. The former mining area decided in the nineties to focus on tourism. With Snowworld, Mondo Verde, Gaia Park and Museumboulevard, Parkstad has changed my pastors for a future in the tourist area. Park City was chosen above the Swiss National Parks and South African Cape Town. There were 157 regions reported as candidates for the main tourist prize.

Euphoric
VVV Director Anya Niewierra responds euphorically to L1: “Now the journalists are coming, they are talking internationally, we get on the covers of the travel magazines. Is not that great?”

‘Region is on a World Map’
Deputy Eric Geurts believes the region’s appreciation is fantastic. “I’m from that region, I know how difficult the region has been. I’ve been a long driver for it,” said Geurts, formerly an elder in Brunssum. “The region is now on the world map.”

Rating
Wethouder Kelly Regterschot from Landgraaf sees the award as appreciation for the many work of the people in Parkstad. “We can really say today that we are proud of what we have achieved, and that others share pride.”

‘This is the reward’
Anya Niewierra believes that the dare of the drivers in Parkstad has been rewarded. “Twenty years ago, the Heuvelland had a major problem in tourism, and the region sought facilities that tourists could pass throughout the year. The municipalities in Parkstad then stopped the finger, in a period that ambition was certainly not self-evident. unpacked, and this is the reward. “